A suspected Iranian-made drone strike killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, according to the Pentagon. The US forces retaliated with strikes on facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, killing fighters on the ground, according to an activist group. Iran denies involvement. A US Army general warned of further strikes if Iran should threaten US troops stationed in Syria. Efforts to de-escalate tensions had been underway with Saudi Arabia and Iran working towards reopening each other’s embassies. The US maintains a base near Hasakah in northeast Syria, with roughly 900 troops and contractors stationed there.